This location will offer shippers various services, including air and ocean transportation, distribution, consolidation, and value-added transportation and logistics services for shippers Southeast Asia, according to CHRW officials. CHRW also cited a report in the Viet Nam News, which stated the Vietnam’s Washington-based commercial counselor Ngo Van Thoan indicated Vietnam’s exports to the United States are likely to increase 14.5 percent in 2009.

CHRW Vice President of global forwarding Jeff Scovill told LM that the global 3PL continued to see sourcing from its customers into the Vietnam market, which required the company to establish a presence there to ensure service consistency and cross-selling of its services in Vietnam.

When asked what the biggest benefits of this endeavor are for shippers, Scovill said “Experienced personnel versed in traditional solutions based initiatives to help shippers and consignees drive out unnecessary supply chain costs,” adding that “C.H. Robinson will be able to offer all of our services to those needing them in Vietnam.”

While not disclosing specific figures, Scovill said the Vietnam location has a small staff that is expanding rapidly based on customer demand. Initially, CHRW expects to service approximately 25 companies in Vietnam, with an expectation to expand significantly throughout 2009.

"We are very excited about growing our presence in Southeast Asia and will use this as our launching point for further movement into the region,” said Mark Hong, C.H. Robinson managing director of Asia, in a statement. “This expansion deepens our commitment to the development of inter-region logistics for Asia as we continue to build the links between our distribution networks in Asia and North America, Europe, and South America,"

C.H. Robinson currently has 18 offices in Asia, including China, Hong Kong, India, and Singapore, according to company officials.